Dorworth surprised to draw a Republican challenger

In a sign of growing discord among Seminole CountyRepublicans, GOP challengers have filed to run against two of the county's most powerful legislators: Reps. Chris Dorworth and Jason Brodeur.

John Moffitt, treasurer of the Republican Party of Seminole County, announced this week that he will take on Dorworth, who is in line to become House Speaker in 2014, in the Aug. 14 primary. District 29 includes Lake Mary, Longwood, Casselberry and Altamonte Springs.

His decision comes weeks after former Winter Springs Mayor John Bush filed to run against Brodeur in House District 28, which includes Winter Springs, Oviedo and portions of Sanford and Casselberry.

Jim Bomford, a former vice chairman of the Seminole County Republican Executive Committee, said the challenges reflect Republicans' concerns about both men's attacks on the county school board and ethical worries about Dorworth.

"I've heard a lot of feedback from people and there are concerns about Dorworth going into the speakership," Bomford said.

"He's a future party leader, yet he's living in a house where he hasn't made a mortgage payment, he's involved in a business that stands to make millions on the Wekiva Parkway, and he's in a testy divorce," Moffitt said. "There are just so many questions that you have to wonder if my opponent is truly the man who should be in charge of the state of Florida's budget."

Dorworth's divorce proceedings and financial issues – he's not made mortgage payments on his $1.2 million Lake Mary home for two years – are public record. He also has worked as a consultant for attorney Jim Palmer, a Seminole County developer who owns land near the proposed Wekiva Parkway, which Dorworth supported in Tallahassee.

Moffitt, who lists his occupation as a professional sports official and has never run for office, faces an uphill fight. Dorworth has a campaign warchest of $250,000. And the two-term legislator expressed clear annoyance that a local party official would challenge him.

"It's clearly his prerogative to run for office," Dorworth said. "But it means that I will go out and communicate with the voters as I have always done."

Dorworth said his divorce proceedings are a personal issue that shouldn't be part of a political campaign. He said he is taking part in an ongoing mediation process with his mortgage company.

Bush said he became disheartened with Brodeur after he sponsored legislation that would have made it crime for doctors to ask their patients about gun ownership, and teamed with Dorworth on an amendment this year that would have prohibited the Seminole County School District from closing schools.